Thessalia hit the ground with her butt. A lingering fear was instilled in her heart.
“Who-who are you?!”, she stutteringly asked.
Being transported in a different dimension simply by catching eye contact with one another was a feat not many could do, especially a young man like Zachariel.
Moreover, they were scenes that happened not in Pandragea, but to another world with which she was unfamiliar.
`What is he? What were those scenes?! How terrifying!`
…
“Princess Thessalia!”, Raffila and the rest caught up to her.
“What happened, my Princess!”, Veidora worried.
Everyone could see her fear-stricken eyes as her left hand that pointed at Zachariel shook in place.
Supreme Elder Wyngella narrowed her eyes in this peculiar turn of event.
`She was lively angry earlier. Why is she so afraid now?`
If only could Thessalia narrate to her what happened, Supreme Elder Wyngella would then doubt if Kane was worthy to fight Zachariel.
“You! What did you do to her?!”, Veidora followed Thessalia’s example.
And a moment later, he stumbled on the ground again. Now, there were two eldens shaking in fear as both of them pointed at Zachariel’s figure.
“What is happening? Can somebody tell me what is going on?!”, Higher Elder Targaros shared the confusion with everyone else.
The delay in the long-awaited trial-by-combat was now shrouded in mystery.
They have seen that Zachariel didn’t do anything but just stand and stare at Thessalia and Veidora when the two bellowed at him.
Thalanil thought out of the possibilities that had happened.
`I felt an overwhelming aura washing over my daughter earlier! This doesn’t come easily from a human!`
Jeremias also bellowed at Zachariel as well but his gaze didn’t cause any discomfort towards the disrespectful brat.
`Is this the work of something else? Or is it purely coming from him?!`, Thalanil wondered.
In a discreet part of the coliseum.
“Interesting. Very interesting. I am really interested in that young boy now!”, an elderly voice hoarsely spoke.
Raskael was conflicted on the side.
`Damn it, he’s too loud. At this rate, we’ll be noticed.`, he cursed inside.
“Raskael, didn’t I tell you about the great 12 Royal Elden Families?”, the old man asked.
“Supreme Elder, please enlighten me.”
The old man nodded.
“We have yet to see a descendant of the Zecfanto Royal Family in person, and in blood, but do you know an indisputable fact that one is a descendant of them?”
Raskael was intrigued. He thought that the Book of Erialden Orvehantea lacked much information, but it seems like the Supreme Elder in front of him was hiding the more important things.
“The ability to suppress the rest of the members of the Royal Elden Families.”, the old man said in a serious tone.
Raskael’s eyes widened in shock.
“Supreme Elder, are you saying that-?!”
The old man shook his head.
“Not yet, but we will know soon. The Templars and the Fleeting Shadow’s members are here.”
“It is known that every descendant of this long-lost family always keeps an heirloom that protects them from death. And for the most surprising part, it lasts until they become ascended beings.”
The old man’s words sounded very ridiculous.
It was one thing that they were protected from death at most a few times, but for it to last until they became ascended?
“We will wait for the opportune moment to interfere.”
The old man looked back at the platform, noticing the impatient Supreme Elder Wyngella clenching her fists in anger.
“She knows who’s here. But she is willing to sacrifice, I see. Raskael, keep a lookout for the surroundings. Alert me so that I could help on time.”, the old man waved his hand.
He didn’t want to bother using his power to sense the surroundings. The others would know about it.
But Raskael was different.
He knew what the Supreme Elder implied. Thus, he became serious and increased his attention on the coliseum.
His dark blue eyes glowed in enlightenment.
`Eyes of Scrutiny!`
…
Supreme Elder Wyngella lost patience.
“If the two of you no longer have any business with him, then we shall proceed with the trial now.”
After hearing her words, Zachariel turned around and faced Kane. The only thing in his mind earlier was to gaze at them and show them who was boss.
`I don’t know what is going on with me, but it seems like I have some sort of special interactions with these eldens.`
The first was Supreme Elder Wyngella herself.
Then Thalanil, Althea, and now, Thessalia and Veidora.
But he shook his thoughts about this for now. It was important to focus on the trial first.
Kane, on the other side, snorted in disdain. The familiar feeling of hatred against Zachariel rose within his heart once again.
Moreover, the ethereal feminine voice from before returned.
`Kill him! Kill him!`
`Yes, I will kill him! I will show to these people who is the most powerful young talent in Pandragea!`
`No one, can, could, should, never will be able to stop me! For I am Prince Kane Cromwell, no, the future Emperor Kane Cromwell, the leader of the Great Human Imperium, and soon, the ruler of the Four Great Continents of Pandragea!`
In his mind, the bloodlust he held from the outside was so great that if he let it out, most people in the coliseum would be stricken fear by it.
…
“Kane Cromwell, Zachariel Strom. As the mediator for this trial-by-combat, I will speak out the rules now.”, Supreme Elder Wyngella floated in the middle of the platform, between them.
Her long legs hung on the air, exuding an alluring sensation.
“The trial-by-combat will only have one survivor between the two of you. Whoever survives will be acquitted of all charges, regardless of who had accused you of such. The combat will not end until either one is dead.”
Her last words uneased the hearts of many.
“Iria… is this why you were so worried earlier?”, Luka asked.
“No, I was uncertain, but now, I am! Damn it, to think that the condition is like this!”, Iria didn’t want Zachariel to die, nor would she wish that Kane would die either.
The results of either one of them dying were far too high of a price to pay. Complaints and criticisms flooded out of the mouths of each audience, but Supreme Elder Wyngella wasn’t a pushover.
“Silence! This decision is final and no one has the right to reject it!”, she shouted, amplifying her voice with wind mana essence.
Emperor Marcus tried to bargain, “But Higher Elder, that-“
“I will not be repeating myself, Emperor Marcus.”, she coldly hinted to everyone that she was not open to any more discussions regarding this matter.
`You forced me into this, don’t blame me for it!`
In her defense, it would’ve been better if Emperor Marcus let it all end a few months ago. Even if he earned the public’s distrust, shielding Kane from all the conflict was easier than having his son fight to death alone against another man.
His stubbornness in dealing with Zachariel as soon as possible led it to this, and now, she was giving both parties a way to end the conflict once and for all.
Moreover, there was the matter with regards to the hooded figures gathering in the Imperium Capital City.
“There will be no limitations to whichever skills or spells you would use against one another, but take note. There will be no more interference from the outside parties. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Higher Elder Wyngella.”, the two young boys acknowledged her at the same time.
They weren’t that much bothered that only one of them would live after the day ends.
“And lastly, if any party does interfere with the results of the trial, the Tower will disregard your existence and be banished for eternity.”, she eyed Emperor Marcus and Thalanil.
They would not let either of these boys go down till the end. This demanded her to alter the rules in any way it was necessary.
Thalanil’s expression darkened.
`What a stubborn young lady! Is she ignoring the fact that Emperor Marcus will not let his son die that easily? What is she basing her decisions on? Her power? Her authority? What stupidity!`
Someone tapped him on the back.
<Tarron, what now?!>, he communicated using the mana link.
<They are here, Your Highness, Thalanil. I can feel it.>, Tarron gloomily replied, referring to the arrival of the dark underground faction members.
As someone who was a grandmaster-level elven mage, a slight disturbance of the mana essence in the atmosphere was more than enough to gather his attention.
`Damn it!`, Thalanil’s mood worsened.
His options were lacking but the situation was worsening.
`It seems like everyone wants him dead, except for me! How infuriating!`
If only Supreme Elder Wyngella bent the rules to his wish, things would’ve been easier.
…
“Higher Elders, come over and set up the formation.”, Supreme Elder Wyngella ordered.
The eight Higher Elders flew out of their seats and surrounded the platform in an octagonal manner.
Their hands weaved signs synchronously, incantating, “Murahagin Tirales Gol Das Murgune!”
`That language! Isn’t that the language from my dreams?! From a distant world?!`, Zachariel’s eyes widened in shock.
He didn’t expect that the Higher Elders would know of such language.
`Does this mean that it originated here in this world?`
Based on the knowledge ‘stored’ in his mind, it meant that a supreme trial was now in progress.
Golden spheres formed on each Higher Elder. They acted as the core for the large formation.
Golden lines then extended out, forming a dome-shaped barrier that covered the platform where Kane and Zachariel were.
“Su-, Higher Elder Wyngella, it is ready.”, Higher Elder Rashomon advised.
Supreme Elder Wyngella nodded, weaving a few signs in her hand.
“Sarcantus: Tirales Arvata Darhes!”
The moment she finished her words, the golden lines were engulfed in an aura of death, blackening them and horrifying the atmosphere.
“Ah, the deathly supreme trial.”, the old man from before softly spoke, “It has not been seen for almost an eternity. I wonder how did that brat Wyngella manage to form one right now.”
It was mostly used during the Conflict Era, a hundred thousand years ago when the Tripartite Alliance was yet to form. Fights between convicted criminals, inheritance of royal heritage, and many other incidents used it to settle grievances and other interests.
Nobody knew where it originated, nor the origin of the language it was used to perform the said formation. Many speculated that its origins might be found from the lost pages of the Book of Erialden Orvehantea.
What only remained was the process of how to set up the said formation.
Firstly, a ‘master of ceremony’ is required. This particular person would overlook the entire trial, establishing its conditions, presumably under the notion that both parties accept it.
The book further noted that only divined beings or higher were worthy of being titled as such.
Second, just like any other formation, it required a core, specifically cultivators.
They must focus on maintaining the formation, otherwise, they will be punished, including the master of the ceremony, and the people inside it.
The final part was the establishment of the condition of the trial. Using the peculiar language, the master of ceremony would voice out the words and the formation would then reply with a hum of many voices.
Supreme Elder Wyngella’s eyes became resolute, “The trial starts now!”
The dome-shaped barrier’s dark lines hummed a whisper of death.
“Fel… Ordaheva… Darhes… Alre… Farhal… Que!”
The voices were one yet many. Their tone shook the air and the ground, instilling fear in many of the audiences.
Kane was elated, `Finally, it starts!`
He gathered lightning mana essence and took the initiative to attack.
“Lightning Strike!”
Crash!
Boom!
Lightning crackled near Zachariel’s ground, blowing dust all around. His faint silhouette emerged from within.
“I see.”
Zachariel dusted his clothes using his hands. His eyes observed Kane.
“Is that all?”, he taunted, intensifying the hatred in Kane’s heart.
`Elemental Clone: Lightning Variant!`
Crack! Crack!
Whoosh!
The lightning clone went behind Zachariel, extending its arms just like Kane.
`Lightning Assault!`
“Die, you bastard!”
Kane and his clone then launched fiery lightning strikes, bombarding Zachariel with lightning mana essence.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The successive explosions worried many who were rooting for Zachariel.
Fortunately, he was fast enough to react against each lightning strike, evading them one after the other.
This put many at the edges of their seats.
“How can he dodge my lightning strikes?!”, Kane howled in horror.
There was absolutely no way one could react and move fast enough to evade his attacks.
After all, lightning was almost instantaneous. Even if one could see it coming, lightning was too fast for a normal human to dodge it on time.
Kane didn’t give up, trying his very best to at least land an attack on Zachariel.
He and his lightning clone sent out an attack at the same time.
`Got him!`, he rejoiced.
Just when the two lightning strikes were about to hit Zachariel, his eyes glowed a shade of green.
`Darhesdava Ivarhanis!`
This sudden usage of power alerted the two Supreme Elders.
`The power to control world essence! Just who is this young boy?!`, the old man contained the shock in his mind.
Meanwhile, Supreme Elder Wyngella wondered if she was just imagining things.
`Was that a similar aura I felt from that boy earlier?! Impossible, he is not yet a divined being!`
Despite her rejection, the lightning strikes exploded outwards, hitting Kane and jolting him in place.
“Argh!”
He didn’t expect to be hit by his own attack.
“I don’t believe it! I don’t-!”
Pch!
Zachariel punched Kane’s face right in his nose.
“Shut up.”
He almost slipped up as a groggy feeling hit him after using that strange power.
The lightning clone tried to help its master.
Zap!
It went close to Zachariel, attempting to launch a point-blank lightning strike. Zachariel sensed it but the fatigue interfered with his battle instincts.
`I can’t dodge on time!`
Left with little of an option, he gathered dark mana essence towards his entire body.
`Vortex!`
Using himself as the source, he felt his muscles being torn apart by the pulling force.
“Suicidal! That young boy is out of his mind!”, Elder Gorfo worried.
Although Zachariel inflicted self-harm, the impending lightning strike was thwarted as the vortex absorbed the lightning mana essence.
After a few seconds, the vortex ended.
Zachariel knelt on the ground, panting. His physical body was overflowing with power, but his mind was on the brink of collapse.
Kane recovered from Zachariel’s sudden assault. Blood flowed continuously out of his nose which then drenched his burnt-out clothes.
“Stay away from me!”, Kane shouted, sending out a wind swallow.
Zachariel gathered the last bits of his mental strength, urging himself to jump away and evade Kane’s attack at the last second.
Kane managed to stand up with shaking legs.
“My clone!”
He noticed that it was starting to flicker out of existence.
`Did he just shorten its lifespan?! F****** bastard!`, cursing Zachariel of eternal damnation.
“How dare you punch me in the face, Zachariel Strom?! You will die for that!”
Hearing the lively words coming out of Kane’s mouth, Zachariel was bewildered.
`He’s still wide awake after receiving that punch? Must be because I wasn’t in the top shape.`
Sucking a deep breath, “I dare, Prince Kane, for I have the skills, unlike you who does not have any.”, Zachariel replied.
He seemed to have recovered, standing up without a hint of exhaustion.
“You sure are gifted with wealth and power, my dear prince. Yet unfortunately, you are too unskilled to put them to good use…”
Lightning suddenly engulfed Zachariel as if he was its source of power.
“Li-lightning mana essence? When did he have that?!”, Luiz was in disbelief.
“Didn’t he absorb some of it earlier?”, Ksenia questioned.
“What do you mean he absorbed some of it? That’s not how dark shield, nor dark mana essence works, Ksenia!”, Luiz argued.
Luka nodded in affirmation.
“He’s right, Ksenia. Dark mana essence only changes the nature of a mana essence to a dark one, not to what it was originally before it was absorbed. If Zachariel could use lightning mana essence, then it means that…”, he hesitated.
“It means what… Luka?”, the rest gulped in anticipation.
“It means either his dark shield works differently than the rest, or he had gathered lightning mana essence before this.”
Luka wanted to hit his head after phrasing out the last sentence.
There was no way Zachariel had the time to ‘unconsciously’ gather lightning mana essence in the past few days.
“Look! Don’t tell me he knows that thing as well?!”, Luiz felt that he was slowly becoming crazy.
Everyone looked back at the platform, only to be stupefied once again.
Zachariel stood there in an indifferent manner.
The lightning in his body slowly formed in a figure similar to his, extending out of his body just as the way how it happened to Kane minutes before.
“Impossible, how do you know this spell?!”, Kane took a few steps back, horrified of what Zachariel was about to do.
The latter smirked widely.
“Allow me to inform you of our difference, Prince Kane Cromwell.”
The lightning in his body flashed intensely before a lightning clone stood beside him.
“Elemental Clone: Lightning Variant.”
